DeSoto to hold hearing on proposed animal control ordinance changes

Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal
April 28, 2014 — DeSoto County animal control officer Keith Hamilton ushers a captured canine into the kennel area following its capture Monday morning. DeSoto County government is looking for citizen input on proposed changes to the county’s animal control ordinance.

Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal
April 28, 2014 — John Phelps coaxes a captured stray from his truck upon his return to the DeSoto Animal Services’ shelter Monday morning. Phelps works as an animal control officer handling areas outside city limits on the west side of the county. Animal Services stays busy: During fiscal 2013 the staff logged 1,770 calls, including 667 stray, 88 aggressive and 17 abandoned animals. A public hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 19 during the Board of Supervisors’ regular third-Monday session in Hernando to hear citizen input on proposed changes to the county’s animal control ordinance. In addition to bolstering enforcement duties for animal control officers, “it’s more user-friendly” for the public, Animal Services deputy manager Frank Rainey said of language in the proposal.

DeSoto County government wants to get citizen input on proposed changes to the county's animal control ordinance at a public hearing set for 10 a.m. May 19 during the Board of Supervisors' regular third-Monday session in Hernando.

Another public hearing, on a long-sought cleanup of overgrown property on Woodland Lake Road in western DeSoto County, was rescheduled by the board for July 21 to allow time for litigation involving a prospective buyer to clear up some title issues.

Meanwhile, no hearing was required as the supervisors confirmed their policy on allocations to youth programs, civic and other groups.

A number of "tweaks" have been proposed to simplify the language and streamline administrative and enforcement processes, according to Russell, who was board president when the current ordinance was adopted in 2007.

Among the revisions is deputizing animal control officers: Those "serving in the role of an enforcement officer are sworn in by the DeSoto County Sheriff as special deputy sheriffs for the sole purpose of enforcing this ordinance."

Deputizing the county's two full-time animal control officers "will really help enforce the ordinance and help the county on manpower," Mock said Monday. "It gives us more teeth as far as dealing with animal neglect and abuse."

Deputy Animal Services manager Frank Rainey, also an animal control officer, retires Wednesday. Mock says she hopes to have his successor named by the supervisors by May 6.

The proposed statute also defines "potentially dangerous animals" and says owners shall not neglect, "beat, torment or cruelly tease" an animal. The proposal says "any Animal Services officer or deputy shall have authority to seize any animal he observes running at large or acting as a dangerous animal."

Under Section 5 on enforcement, "any Animal Services officer or deputy having probable cause that a violation of this ordinance has occurred may, in lieu of obtaining a warrant for the arrest of the suspect, issue a written citation requiring the accused person to appear before the DeSoto County Justice Court" for a hearing.

"This means our animal control officers who see a violation won't have to call in a regular deputy, possibly pulling deputies off an emergency situation," said Gardner.

"Overall, I think it's quite an improvement," said Mock.

In response to an inquiry at last week's meeting from Supervisor Harvey Lee of Hernando, Sheriff Bill Rasco assured that all deputized animal control officers would receive firearms training.

The complete revised ordinance is available for review online at desotocountyms.gov and at the Board of Supervisors Office on the third floor of the County Administration Building at 365 Losher Street in downtown Hernando.

Members of the Woodland Lake Improvement Association have been trying "off and on" for eight years to get the kudzu-covered 2819 Woodland Lake Road property west of Hernando cleaned up, says neighborhood group President Shirley Harris.

Harris said her group, praised by Supervisor Lee Caldwell of Nesbit as "the epitome of patience," can wait another three months for the board's July hearing.

On the policy for granting funds, the board affirmed that as to requests from youth programs or events, team and individual limits are $150 for local events, $200 for regional events and $250 for national events. The amounts are the same for civic, community or countywide events.

"We want to spread it out," Gardner said of allocating limited county funds. "And we can depart from those amounts, to possibly give more, on a case-by-case basis."